Wolves Evolve: The Ulver Story

by Tore Engelsen Espedal

The definitive history of Norwegian band Ulver

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography

334 pages, Paperback

Published August 28, 2020

Reviews

[Brendan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ulver to the depths of my soul, and this book only deepens that love. A fascinating, in depth history of the band told through conversations with all current members interspersed with tributes and a wealth of photos, this book is simply awesome.

[mahtiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Becoming mature is to discover and leave behind any kind of close-mindedness, unnecessary conventions or non-functional ideas. Listening to Ulver's music I've intuitively felt that they are one of those bands that have done this authentically. It's definitely gratifying to learn more about their motivations through their own words, marked by a healthy dose of humour and level-headedness. I have to admit, growing apart from that shallow teenage idea of what the music should or shouldn't be myself, these interviews, or better, conversations between friends, feel kind of personal. It definitely enhanced my appereciation for each album in Ulver's discography. Alas, I didn't care that much for those shorter chapters of intellectual 'detours' written by other people close to the band. In a true wolvish manner, the book is full of their own aesthetics, rare pictures and posters, which make it a lovely collector's item for any fan.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

The band biography is a pretty well-worn genre these days, although sadly, they are frequently mundane retellings of well-known stories, relying on the appeal of the brand to shift copies, an extension of the band's existing merchandise as much as anything else. Wolves Evolve, however, is something totally different. This is apparent even before one reads a single word of the text. Clearly a labour of love, the book is immaculately designed and presented, complete with contemporaneous photographs and artwork from throughout the band's career, as much of a work of art as the music of the band whose story it tells.
It helps, of course, that Ulver are one of music's most intriguing propositions, a band whose slightly mysterious reputation was forged in the fire of extreme and misanthropic black metal, but who have long since transcended the narrow confines of that scene for a career of experimental electronica and synth pop, seemingly without losing any credibility, and while retaining much of their fanbase.
Wolves Evolve succeeds because it treats each phase of the band's career with reverence and respect, covering the early years in detail, and explaining how and why the band moved on so quickly, having already made some of the most definitive statements in the genre by 1997. Wolves Evolve also provides a conclusive answer to the always tantalising question of whether Ulver could be persuaded to revisit their early catalogue on record or on stage, and as we get to know the key figures that comprise the core of the band today, we understand just how much of an impossibility such an undertaking would be - even the black metal fanboy in me understands that this phase of the Ulver mythos is best left at rest.
Espedal's extensive access to Kristoffer Rygg and Stian Westerhaus in particular allows for a long-form examination of the band's musical and cultural inspirations, and Espedal is adept at weaving throughout the narrative some of the ever present themes in Ulver's work - the wolf, William Blake, and 1970s prog rock to name but a few, showing how much has changed in 25 years, but also how much has stayed the same. This, perhaps, is the key to the band's longevity - although the recent synth-pop incarnation seems someway far removed from the band that made the savage Nattens Madrigal, Ulver are ultimately the same band, allowing themselves to explore different paths to express a philosophy that has deepened, and not been discarded. Some chapters are also given over to other writers to provide an alternative perspective on the band, covering specific albums or pivotal live shows in Ulver's history, and this elevates Wolves Evolve still further, by broadening the lens through which we view the band.
Wolves Evolve is, in my view, the gold standard of band biographies, and the standard to which future biographies should be held. It is a truly spectacular achievement by Espedal and all involved, and manages to reveal enough of Ulver to ensure that the book is compulsively readable, without destroying the magic that continues to ensure that Ulver remain the fascinating and intriguing band that they have always been.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ulver started as a band within the infamous Norwegian Black Metal scene in the 90's. After creating three albums that showed that they were willing to go on a different path that of other BM bands, they (as said by themselves) shapeshifted into other experimental and electronic sonic-scapes.
This biography is a mix between an interview and a fireplace-talk accompanied by some warming spirit.
Through the book we get glimpses and whispers of what drives each of the (4 core) collective's members in their approach to musical creation and how that influenced their journey and works.
We see that Ulver's evolution is above all the continuous search of new experiences without any restrictions or desire to indulge any other than themselves.
A must read for all Ulver fans

[Madhamish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A massive piece of work, reflecting on the history of the Norwegian experimental band Ulver in their own words, as told by the band members to Tore Engelsen Espedal - from the early black metal days, through the plunge into experimenting with styles and moods, to the first years of pandemics. Maybe a little too much details into moods, feelings and self-analysis, interesting strictly to die-hard fans of the band, but the vast volume of photos, taken through the years, expanding on more than half of the pages, lighten up the read and make the journey through the wolves-path an exciting one.

[Filip Tepper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Świetna rozmowa, przelot przez całą historię zespołu i intelektualne tło muzyki. Minus za rozwlekłe wstępy i przerywniki oraz kilka zdjęć, które przez kiepską jakość zupełnie nic nie wnoszą.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is pure love.